Horn-button switch



Oct. 29, 1929.

L. BLACKMORE HORN BUTTON SWITCH Filed Nov. 11, 192W gwfw,

Patented Get. 29, y1929 narranA staats retest LLoYn BLACKMORE, or HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN, Assiettes To estimant Morrone CoRroRAroiv, or lnnraorr, Moniean, ,A conroimroiv or DELAWARE HORN-BUTTON swrrcia; I' y.

Application mea nevember 1'1, 1927.' semaine. 232,629.,

, will retain a clean point of electrical contact and be free from rattle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and appended claims.

VIn the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through the center of a steering wheel embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the switch taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded view showing the structure and arrangement of the principal parts before assembly.

Figure 4 is av perspective view of the insulating plug carrying the Contact member.

Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated a tubular extension at the top of a steering column and above a steering wheel 12 and usual control levers 14 and 16. This extension 10 may or may not rotate with the inner control lever 16 as desired. The extension 10 is shown provided with a converged central portion 18 in which is fixed a hollow shaft 20 extending the length of the steering column. Resting on the central porthe wall thereof by a screw 28 extending into the slot and threaded in the side of the contact 24.

The insulating plug 22 fitssnugly lin the extension 10 and is held from lateral move- Yto the upper surface-of the washer v54. Thetw ment therein. A slot is provided in each `lator plug 22, spring washer 34 and yoke 38:/

lend of the plug, each slot being extendedV inwardly in its lower portion as shown at 32. The contact member 24 extends slightly above the; center of the plug 22', as illustrated, the toppof the plug being depressed slightly in 4the regionv about the contact 24, as shown at lingers 36. The Vinner ends ofthe fingers 36 are located approximately at the edge of the contact 24, thus providing a central opening between the converging finger ends exposing the surface of the contact 24'. While I have shown a considerable number of spring iingers it is obvious that four or eventwo opposed ngers may be considered sufficient.

' The disc 34 is held in position by a yoke stamping 38. This yoke is conoidalin'shape 'and is provided with diametrically opposed tabs or projections 40.adapted to lit in the slots 30 and to be crimped in the lower portions 32 of these slots to hold the insulating` plug 22, disc 34 and yoke 38 irmlytogether. The yokeV 38 is also provided with a downwardly extending lug 42 provided with a threaded aperture 44. The assembledinsuare held in position within the tubular exten-V vsion 10 by means of a screw- 46 extending through the wall of the extension 10 vand threaded into the opening 44 in the lug 42.A Supported on the structure vdescribed'is the horn button. This button comprises a l main portion 48 4of suitable insulating `material havingffixed `therein a hollow metallic` shank 50. The shank 50 isrreduced at 52 and. again` at 53 to form a tip which y extends through the central `opening in theyoke 38. I providea flangeon'thelower part ofthe but-- .ton which comprises a washer 54 having a Vbevelled upper surface as illustrated. The` washer 54 is held on the reduced portion 52 of the shank 50 by riveting or spreading the portion 52 where itis reduced at 53.

The: central aperture in the yoke 38 is provided with a bevel-led surface corresponding spring fingers 36 press upward on the washer 54 and insure that the bevelled upper side will seat snugly in the correspondingly bevelled central portion of the yoke 38. The spring fingers are ordinarily sufhcient to hold the buttonV thus firmlyseated, but if desired a coil spring 56 may be provided betweenthe under side of the button and the upper side of the yoke 38 and surrounding the shank 50 for insuring that the button will `remain seated and will notrattle and yet Awill require but a light pressure to depress it.

The operation of the device willnow'be described. `When the operatorpresses the `button downward against the resistance of the springfngers 36, thetip of the shank .toucliesitlie Contact 24 zuid, due tothe contact of the washer 54 with thespring ,fingers 3,6 and .the yoke 38 which is connected with the metallic `part of .the framework fof the car, the wire 26 connecting with the signaling device is efiectually grounded. -Upon release of the button, thespring fingerspress resiliently urging said button upward to seat said flange in said aperture. I

3. In a horn buttonV assembly, a base of insulating material having a central Contact member and a cover providing with a central aperture, a button having a shank extending through said aperture and a flange extending laterally therefrom, and a disc secured between said base and cover and having a spring finger .extending radially therefrom for resiliently urgingsaid vbutton .upward to seat said flange against said cover.

4. Ina -horn button assembly7 an insulated base Contact, a bridge-piece extending over said Contact, a button overspreading said contaetand seid bridge-pieceend having a Contact shank extending through said .bridge-piece and adapted to engage saidbase Contact anda spring conductor extending 'from said bridge-piece tosaidfbutton shank.

In testimony whereof I a'ffiXany signature.

VLLOYD BLACKMQBE.

the shank upwardand seat ,the .bevelled surn f face 54: of the lwasher in thecorrespondingly bevelled surface .inthe centralportion ofthe yoke 38,\.thus disestablishing contact between Vtheshank O/and 4contact 24 and disconnecting the signal circuit.

rlhe button, when in use, will rbe rotated slightly from time toptime andthe tip of the A shank will Ithus Vbe `cleaned by the g`rinding thereof on the yplug Contact.k It `isalso important that :electrical .Contact .be made between kthe tip of theshank and the plug AContact as these `partsare sufficiently large -to .withstanda great dealfof sparkingwitn out .undue deterioration While the spring fingers can readily, carryv Ithe currentpro- .viding they .do not make tand break7 ,the

Contact. Y

I claim: i. In fa 'horn ,button assemblyan ,insulated centralcontact, .anapertured coverfa `butl .ton fhaving a qmetallie Contact shankextending .throughsaid apertured coverover said insulated y'contact Aand havingV a .flange .eX-

tending laterally therefrom, :said flange -be 50' ing provided with an upwardlyjbevelledfportion vand the central lportion of said'scover being similarly bevelled te seat said flange. and a spring member fixedbetweensaidcover and insulating base and yadapted to seat I l said flange 4in said aperture.

Q. In a horn button assembly, la base of insulating material `having a central contact member and a coverprovidedwith acen'tral aperture, a button having a contact shank extending through said aperture over .said insulated contactand a flangeextendinglaterally therefrolnaidf'lange being provided with an upwardly fbevelled Aportionand-the central portionvof sa-id cover being similarly ybevelled to vseat sa1d flange, land means for 

